l AND INSIDE: ARCHERS AIM FOR FINALE, 1C
MORE IN SPORTS: SOME LHS GYM BLEACHERS WILL BE CLOSEDTHIS FALL, SA
'I'HI'. 8ERVING UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIE8 8INCE 1886 I I I
I r
I
I
r
I
.
r l
I
•
.
.
I
EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
Tom Insko marks first days asEastern Oregon University president, excited about retumin3, to lead his alma mater By Dick Mason The Observer
New Eastern Oregon University President Tom Insko was onthe verge ofdeveloping a caseofwriter'scramp Wednesday. Insko was signing a stack ofletters in his office welcoming students who had just been admitted to Eastern. Each of the letters invited the future student to call Insko ifhe or she needed help with anything. "Giving students a personal welcome is important," Insko said.'That is part of what makes Eastern special." Insko admitted that his right hand might have been a bit tired, signing so many of the new student letters. 'That is a good problem to have," he said. EOU's enrollment, which has been falling for several years, appearsto be stabilizing,Insko said.A piece ofthathascome Insko's way during his first 10 days as president. The Legislature on Monday approved a bill that will provide Oregon's state universities with $30 million in additional funding. Eastern's share of this funding remains to be determined, but Insko is encouraged by the Legislature's gesture of support. "It is a step in the right direction," Insko said. The Legislature also approved bills that will provide EOU with $300,000 tohelp restoreitswrestlingprogram, should it decidetobring the program back,and $2.9 m illion to remove aging Hunt Hall and restore the site it sits on. The financial news is giving Eastern a momentum SeeInsko / Page 5A
• Study: State schoo l-test standards rate average to just below average
New Eastern Oregon University President Tom lnsko has been busy his first few days on the job.
Tim Mustoerrhe Observer
Wallienogimistic for 'Resilienti:orests'dill By George Plaven East Oregonian
The Associated Press
As wildfire season heats up across the West, lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are pursuing disasterrelieffunding to help pay for bigger, costlier fires on public land. House Bill 2647, known as the Resilient Federal Forests Act, would also expedite forest thinning projects in an effort to boost logging jobs while lowering the risk of catastrophic fires.
U.S. Rep. GregWalden, R-oregon,
A fire burns behind a brick doorway and entryway of a building destroyed by fire at Biggs Junction last month.
discussed his support of the bill
INDEX
F ull forecast onthe backof B section
Calendar........7A Classified.......1B Comics...........9B Crossword..... 5B Dear Abby ... 10B
WE A T H E R Health ............6C Outdoors .......1C Horoscope.....5B Record ...........3A Lottery............2A Spiritual Life..6A Obituaries......3A Sports ............SA Opinion..........4A Television ......3C
Thursday, which passed the House handily and once againputs forest management reforms Walden to the Senate. Last year, Walden promoted legislation that would have required the Secretary of Agriculture to designate land in every national forestsuitable forcommercial timber harvest, and reduce hazardous wildfire fuels in at-risk areasestablished by the governor. See Bill / Page 5A
Saturday " "
Sunday
59 Low
77/58
80/54
A thunderstorm
PORTLAND — Oregon set average to below-average standards for how well its elementary and middle school students should read and do math, a new study says. Neighboring Washington asked its students and schools to hit a higher bar on its reading and math tests for 2013, the year examined in the study. Washington setgrade-levelexpectations farhigher than Oregon did, particularl yforfourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math, the study said. The National Center for Education Statistics report, releasedlateWednesday, looked at the difftculty level of all 50 states' standardized tests. Nearly all states, including Oregon, have stopped using those old tests and standards since 2013. They replaced them with the more demandingCommon Core See Scores / Page 5A
Oregon's minimum skill requirements to pass its state tests were roughly in the middle of the pack nationally. They were particularly low for fourth-grade reading eventhough Oregon raised the score needed to passthat testin 2012, the study sald.
enkins steps down after 36 years Inside • Scott Hartell another named new county It's summer planning director camp
completed for Bobby Cornford, who hung up her apron after more than 30 years of cooking for more than 100 children at 4-H camp. Page 2A
By Cherise Kaechele The Observer
After more than 36 years, Union County Planning Director Hanley Jenkins has retired and is looking forward to some fishing trips. Jenkins' last day with the county was June 30. Since his final day with the county, he's been"fishing as often as I can." Jenkins' experience before SeeJenkins / Page 5A
b
A p.m. t-storm
541-963-3161
Email story ideas to newsC~lagrande observer.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
Issue 81 3 sections, 26 pages La Grande, Oregon
MONDAY IN HOME PRUNING YIELDS BLACKBERRY BOUNTY
Meet Dr. Holly Clowe. An expert in pediatrics. And patience. •000
the road
CONTACT US
Friday At-storm early
Middle of
By Betsy Hammond The Oregonian
•000
s
•
•
I
•
51 1 5 3 0 0 1 0 0
•
I
•
•
•
' •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • •
•
•
•
6
'® ®
G
'
•
•000
a